NMBM forges ahead with solar powered streetlights – NMBM

Motorists and pedestrians
travelling on the busy Stanford Road between Cleary Park and Windvogel in Gqeberha have
expressed relief and joy at the completion of the installation of 11 new solar
powered high mast lights in the area by
the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

The R3.5million project which
commenced in April and was recently completed has changed what was once a
hotspot for vandalism of streetlights into a safer and brighter area recording
no vandalism case since the completion of the project to date.

Resident Bradley Mclean said: “I
feel much safer now on the road as I ride a motorbike and it sometimes became
challenging for the motorists to see. I can see across much clearer.”

On Monday, 12 June 2023, NMBM
Electricity and Energy Portfolio Head, Cllr Zanele Sikawuti,
conducted an oversite visit in the area as the Metro plans to expand the
project in other areas that continue to be negatively affected by the scourge
of vandalism and unstable power supply due to loadshedding.

“This project is a first of its
kind in our City, the lights are 20-meters high and
Stanford Road was chosen because this section of the road was one of the most
vandalised sections of road in the NMBM. Millions of rands has
been spent over the years replacing infrastructure in this area and within days
of replacing the infrastructure we would find the lights vandalised again. So we
are very happy that it has been about three weeks now and the lights are still
standing giving our residents a safe road to travel on especially since it gets
dark early now,” said Cllr Sikawuti.

The benefits of the new
infrastructure include the zero maintenance costs of the lights with the
solar photovoltaic panels spanning a 25-year linear performance warranty as
well as a 10-year product warranty.

“There are zero energy costs
involved as the solar lights are powered by the sun so no municipal electrical
supply is required. They will not be affected by loadshedding, the
lights operate autonomously from the power grid. We are calling on all
communities to work with us as we continue to play our part in providing
services.

Vandalism of
service delivery infrastructure is a huge challenge in our Metro and it needs
all of us to work together and fight it. We are planning to roll the project to
other areas and we believe that ff erected near clinics, schools, community
centres and other important sites, these lights will provide lighting no matter
the status of the electrical grid to enhance community safety,” added Cllr Sikawuti.


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Issued
by the Nelson
Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Office.